Richard Normington

Wednesday, February 14, 2018

"This photo is of some of the little kiddies who have no homes and I give any pieces of food that is left over to the priest in charge of them... they call me Bon Pappa and I have quite a family all of my own"

Sunday, September 24, 2017

When my parents moved to Wistow it was described as an English village
with a nice Norman church and even better Anglo-Saxon pub. However the
pub is in danger.

The Three Horseshoes is closing unless the locals can find a buyer or
band together to buy it as a community benefit. A copy of the presentation
is here. With the right management - and
range of real ales - this place would be stormingly good. But time is running
out.

Sunday, July 16, 2017

"My dearest Jeanie, Just a postcard to let you know that I am keeping in the best of health... we are having grand weather here today..."
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"From the 16th to the 23rd July their mornings were spent at every sort
of drill—smoke-helmet drill, musketry, wiring, Lewis-gun, etc., and
their afternoons in going over the training-ground and practising
attacks. All that time the weather was perfect. As soon as they moved
away to Proven and into the battle-area on July 25 heavy rain began..." Kipling's History of the Irish Guards

Sunday, November 20, 2016

"The Battalion was relieved by the 2nd Grenadiers at midnight (16th November), but were not clear till morning, when they crawled back to camp between Carnoy and Montauban, packed forty men apiece into the icy-chill Nissen huts, supposed to hold thirty, and were thankful for the foul warmth of them. Thence they moved into unstable tents on the outskirts of Méaulte, on the Bray road, where the wind funnels from all parts of the compass, and in alternate snow, rain, and snow again, plumbed the deeps of discomfort. When frost put a crust on the ground they drilled; when it broke they cleaned themselves from mud; and, fair or foul, did their best to “improve” any camp into which fortune decanted them." (Kipling)

Wednesday, August 3, 2016

A new report, released today by TheCityUK, sets out a future
vision for the UK-based financial and related professional services industry to
ensure its long-term growth and success. As an international leader, the
industry starts from a strong position.

However, as it becomes more global, competitive and
technology fuelled, and with added headwinds from a pending Brexit, the report
warns that complacency is not an option. The structural challenges facing the
industry must be addressed now and new opportunities created or its competitive
advantage, and the continued attractiveness of the UK, could be challenged.

TheCityUK report, UK financial and related professional
services: meeting the challenges and delivering opportunities, lays out a
comprehensive framework for the industry to deliver innovation, be more
resilient and better skilled, identifying five broad areas for focus. Given the
importance of the industry to the wider economy, it also makes clear the need
for industry to work collaboratively with policymakers and regulators across
these areas to bring forward policies that support and drive growth.

Richard Normington

Richard is now publishing on the 100th anniversary of their being sent the postcards mailed home by his great grandfather during the first world war. Other articles are cross-posted from TheCityUK or date back to a previous life as a Cambridge campaigner and commentator.